Switch protector



Oct. 13, 1970 w. J. KUDLATY SWITCH PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 30, 1968 "United States Patent Oiiice 3,534,156 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,534,150 SWITCH PROTECTOR Walter J. Kudlaty, Elmhurst, lll., assignor to Marvel Engineering Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 30, 1968, Ser. No. 787,968 Int. Cl. H01b 17/00 U.S. Cl. 174-138 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An insulating switch protector formed in one piece of flexible material and having a first pocket portion adapted to receive one end and three sides of a rectilinear switch member, an intermediate hinged portion adapted to receive the opposite end of said switch member, and a second pocket portion hinged to said intermediate portion and adapted to receive the third side of said switch member and two sides and an end of said first pocket portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A weatherproofing and insulating cover-protector for a rectilinear switch member is formed of an integral piece of flexible insulating material and includes a first pocket portion having a closed end and adapted to receive and enclose three sides and one end of said switch member. The protector has an intermediate hinged portion at the opposite end of said first pocket portion to receive the terminals. The protector includes a second pocket portion hinged to said intermediate portion and foldable to receive and close the open side of said switch member and two sides and the closed end of said first pocket portion. Said first pocket portion has an aperture for passage therethrough of a switch fitting and a recess for reception of switch fastener elements. The intermediate portion has passages therethrough corresponding to the crosssectional configuration of connectors received therein.

This invention relates to the field of insulating, weatherproofing protectors for switches and the like and has for one of its purposes the provision of a protector capable of weatherproofing and insulating substantially the entirety of a switch member.

Another purpose is to provide an insulating protector formed of one piece of fiexible material and of maximum economy in manufacture and use.

Another purpose is to provide an insulating switch protector of maximum ease in application and removal.

Another purpose is to provide an insulating protector for a switch member having interpenetrating portions formed and adapted to enclose substantially the entirely of the switch member.

Another purpose is to provide an insulating protector for switch members which shall be devoid of interference with the use and operation of the switch member.

Other purposes may appear from time to time during the course of the specification and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a cover of the invention and a switch member coverable thereby;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the elements of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation on a reduced scale and illustrating the elements of FIG. 1 at one step in their assembly; and

FIG. 4 is an end view of the cover illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

For illustrative purposes, the switch member herein is shown as an elongated, rectilinear member having a first elongated side defined by a wall 1 and a second elongated side defined by wall 2 disposed perpendicularly to wall 1. The switch member may be considered as having two corresponding sides which, if wall portions were provided, would join in rectangle-defining relationship with the walls 1 and 2. The switch member may include a plurality of switch arms indicated at 3, 4 and 5, having terminal end portions 3a, 4a, 5a extending beyond one end of the switch. The arms 3, 4, 5 may be fixed in clamping blocks indicated at 6 by fasteners 7, 8. An attaching fitting 9 may be secured to wall 1 and may define a channel 10 for passage therethrough of a suitable switchactuating member (not shown).

It will be understood that the switch member to be protected may take a variety of forms and that the switch protector of the invention will thus have elements conforming thereto.

In the case illustrated, for example, referring now to FIG. l, the protector of the invention which, in any case, is formed of a single piece of flexible insulating material having the properties, for example, of rubber, includes a first pocket portion 15. An intermediate portion 16 is hinged, as by relatively thin lateral segment 17 to one end of portion 15. The intermediate segment 16 is hinged at its opposite end, as by relatively thin segment 18, to a second pocket portion 19.

The portion 15 includes a base or bottom wall segment 20 corresponding in dimension and size substantially with the wall 1 of the switch member to be protected. Since the actuating member and attaching fitting 9 is secured to wall 1, an aperture 21 is formed in the wall 20 and located for passage therethrough of the fitting 9. It will be observed that the aperture 21 is configured for reception of the fitting 9 and since, in the case illustrated, the fitting l9 has a flange 9a, the opening or aperture 21 has a countersink 21a formed and adapted for reception of the fiange 9a. Rising from the opposite longitudinal edges of the wall 20 of portion 15 are parallel spaced walls 22, 23, the wall 22 being formed and adapted for overlying the external surface of wall 2 of the switch member. Wall 23 has a recess 23a in its upper edge for reception therein of the heads of fasteners 7, 8 which, as may be seen in FIG. 2, extend beyond the edge of wall 1 which engages the inner base of wall 23 of portion 15. Formed integrally with the walls 20, 22 and 23 is an end closure wall 24 upstanding from the end of wall 20 adjacent aperture 21.

The opposite end of wall 20 joins the relatively thin hinge segment 17 with which is integrally formed the intermediate portion 16. Extending through the intermediate portion 16 are bores 30, 31 and 32 which, in crosssectional configuration, correspond to the cross-sectional configuration of connector elements (not shown) formed and adapted for engagement with switch arm terminals 3a, 4a and 5a. It will be yunderstood that the bores 30, 31, 32 are positioned also for reception of the terminals 3a, 4a, 5a, respectively, as described hereinbelow.

The hinge portion 18 integrally connects the segment 16 with a base wall 40 of portion 19. When the device of the invention is in the free state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be observed that the wall 40 lies in the plane of and is of substantially equal thickness and width with the wall 20 of portion 15. The wall 40 is, however, of a length at least equal to the wall 20y plus the thickness of wall 24.

The side walls 41, 42 of portion 19 are spaced apart a distance sufiicient just to receive the walls 22, 23 therebetween, the walls 41, 42 being inwardly offset as indicated at 41a, 42a to receive the longitudinal upper edges, as the parts are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of walls 22, 23. The end wall 43 of portion 19 is formed and positioned to receive the wall 24 thereagainst as described hereinbelow, the end wall 43 being inwardly offset adjacent its base as indicated at 43a for reception of the upper edge, as the parts are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of wall 24.

End wall 43, however, has at its upper edge, as the parts are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 an inward, curved extension or overhang 43h formed and positioned to perform a latching function, as described below. Outwardly extending from the upper edges, as the parts are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the `walls 41, 42, 43 is a continuous ange 45.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

The user presses, as shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate segment 16 over terminals 3a, 4a, 5a which are thus received in bores 30, 31 and 32. The user then presses pocket portion 15 and the switch member to be protected together. In the form shown, for example, the fitting 9 is pressed through aperture 21 and the external surface of wall 1 is pressed into contact with the inner surface of wall 20 of portion 15. The wall 2 will, accordingly, be pressed into engagement with the inner surface of wall 22 of portion 15 and the external portions of fasteners 7, 8 will be received in recess 23a of Wall 23. Thereafter the right-hand portion 19, as the parts are shown, is tiexed toward the switch member =1, the relatively thin hinge portion 17 facilitating such flexing. Continued rotation or flexing of portion 19 toward switch 1 and portion 15 results in the reception of portion 15 within portion 19 and the complete enclosure of the switch member therewithin. It will be observed that the radius of latching overhang 43h corresponds to the radius of the external surface of portion 15 at the point of juncture between walls 20 and 24. Complete reception, therefpre, of portion 15 within portion 19 results in a latching engagement of overhang 43h with the said external corner as shown in FIG. 1 at 24a. Thereafter, suitable connector elements (not shown), carried at the end of appropriate electrical conductors, are inserted into bores 30, 31 and 32, the cross-sectional configuration of which corresponds to that of said connectors. The connectors thus engage terminals 3a, 4a, Sa within the body of segment or portion 16 and said engagement is protected and sealed thereby.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An insulating protector for enclosing substantially the entirety of a switch member, said protector being formed of a single piece of flexible material, said protector including a first pocket portion having a base wall,

CFI

a pair of parallel spaced side walls and an end wall, said walls of said first portion Ebeing formed and adapted to receive and enclose a corresponding number and contiguration of sides and one end of the switch member to be protected, said protector having an intermediate portion hingedly connected to said iirst portion at its end opposite said end wall of said irst portion, said intermediate portion being formed and adapted to engage and close the opposite end of said switch member to be protected, said protector having a second pocket portion hingedly connected to said intermediate portion and having a base wally spaced parallel side walls and an end wall at its end opposite that connected to said intermediate portion, said second pocket portion being foldable to enclose Within the spaced side walls and end wall of said second pocket portion the remaining side of said switch member to be protected and the side walls and end Wall of said first pocket portion, said side walls of said second pocket portion being spaced apart further than the side walls of said lirst pocket portion, said end wall of said second pocket portion being spaced a greater distance from said intermediate portion than the end wall of said first pocket portion.

2. The structure of claim 1 characterized by and including an overhang segment extending inwardly from the end wall of said second pocket portion and formed and adapted for latching engagement with an external corner edge of said first pocket portion when said first pocket portion is substantially entirely received within said sec- UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1960 Spence. 6/ 1963 Wood.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner D. A. TONE, Assistant Examiner 

